TunerPro RT

[scooterwrench]

Hey Folks,
I've ordered a ALDL cable from http://aldlcable.com/aldl.aspm and am going to download TunerPro RT this evening.
When I get the cable it will be the first time I have ever plugged into an ECM other than a code reader.
The vehicle is a 91 C1500,305,700R4,2WD,3.08 gear and 90" of tire. ECM is a 1227747.

I've named it ol Smoky.(because it did) I'm not going for a race truck but I would like to get the most power and efficiency that I can. The motor is not long for this world so if/when it grenades I'll just sweep up the pieces and drop in my 355.

I'm totally techno illiterate but I do have a firm grasp of naturally aspirated engine theory and have built many engines and ported many heads for many moons so things like air/fuel ratios and timing curves and such are not new to me.

Reading them and changing them on a laptop will be.
What do I need to know to get started?

[TriumphR3]

This might be a good place to start.
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...-a-must-read!-)

[scooterwrench]

[scooterwrench]

I've downloaded Tpro and one of those bin files on the tutorial thread but can't seem to figure out how to transfer the file onto the program. I want to see/practice before I start screwing my own sh*t up.

[steveo]

with tunerpro, for tuning you load an XDF file and a BIN file. the XDF is a Definition File tells tunerpro what the hell is going on in your BIN and the XDF much be correct for your ecm or the BIN will show as gibberish. think of the xdf as the dictionary that teaches tunerpro how your bin file is layed out.

in the xdf menu you go 'select xdf'
in the file menu you then go 'open bin'

at that point there should be a ton of parameters to screw around with

for logging you load an ADX (aquisition definition whatever) file that tells it how to talk to your ECM, no xdf or bin necessary for that.

[scooterwrench]

One of us is not on the same page,probably me. I haven't received my ALDL cable yet. I was trying to load a $42 file that was in EagleMarks tutorial into TP to see what it looks like and play with the buttons to try and understand what does what. Like AFR and timing for a certain TPS and MAP(load) reading. Turning off Changing EGR and related code etc.

[steveo]

so you have a bin and an xdf?
dont need any cables or even a car to have a look just load the bin and xdf into tunerpro

[scooterwrench]

Thanks steveo,
I think I've got it figured out,had entered the XDF but not a bin

[scooterwrench]

TunerPro does OBDII also? My brother has a 2003 Avalanche that has an intermittent no crank problem. He won't even go in it anywhere for fear it will show its ass. I'm kinda thinking it's the VATS giving him the problem and have found a OBDI to OBDII adapter to maybe help solve his problem.

[NomakeWan]

I guarantee you that "OBDI to OBDII" adapter is complete and utter junk. Do not actually try to plug it into a car. Don't have to believe me either, you could just take out the screws holding each end's plastic case together and crack the thing open and trace which wires are connected to which pins. 100% guaranteed the pinouts won't make any sense and, in the worst case, will connect 12V to something it really shouldn't be connected to.

TunerPro can technically do OBDII as long as you have an appropriate ADX but it's not very good at it. There are better alternatives for OBDII vehicles. If you just want general OBDII information, I personally use OBDLink SX for that purpose. If you want GM-specific OBDII information and/or want to perform more advanced procedures (bleeding ABS, energizing solenoids, etc) then you may want to consider investing in a Tech 2. A stock Tech 2 card will handle any GM vehicle from 1992 to 2013. An alternative program exists which will handle 1981-1997 as well.

If VATS is the culprit it will be insanely obvious. Every vehicle I've ever interacted with--GM, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, etc--has a visual indicator on the dashboard that's insanely obvious and tells you explicitly that the key inserted doesn't meet the requirements to satisfy the anti-theft system. All three of my C4 Corvettes has that indicator. The Chrysler PT Cruiser has that indicator. The '14 Honda Civic has that indicator. The '15 Toyota Corolla has that indicator. That's nearly 25 years of vehicles from multiple manufacturers who made sure to put a super obvious visual indicator on the dash to indicate the state of the anti-theft system. As such, while I don't know anything about the 2003 Avalanche, I'd bet dollars to donuts that there's a dash indicator for VATS. So if your theory is correct, you won't need any scan tool whatsoever to prove it.

Best of luck!

[scooterwrench]

http://aldlcable.com/aldl.aspm
Has anybody bought cables from these folks recently? I received my cable today but no CDROM for the drivers. Was wondering if it is something I need to download. The site is kind of vague about it. Supposedly you're supposed to receive a CDROM or you can purchase a thumb drive with the drivers on it.

[NomakeWan]

I have their 16-pin ALDL (OBD1) cable, it's legit. You don't need a CD or a USB drive. They use a standard FTDI virtual COM port driver. Not a special unique driver. Here you go: https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/

[scooterwrench]

Well Got my cable,downloaded the drivers,chose the ADX,plugged in the cable and turned the key,,,,,,,,,nothing!!!!
WTF!!!!
Would somebody please explain this sh*t in plain english. I'm not a computer geek,I just want to tune my friggin truck.

[steveo]

the first step is not to panic. tuning is a somewhat complicated task that requires becoming a bit of a geek so you'd better accept that fact now or just give up. tunerpro isn't the easiest tool to use, it's really oldschool (but so is your truck so it's pretty much all you have)

first you have to configure the tool for your interface

tools menu
preferences
data acq and emulation tab
interface type: use plugin
configure plug in component button
choose correct port number there

what is your correct port number? google 'how to find com port number' or something if you have trouble

then in the acquisition menu use 'show monitors' or whatever so you can see some data

and then start/stop data scan in the acquisition menu again

[NomakeWan]

On Windows, you're gonna find the COM port by right-clicking the Start Menu, clicking "Device Manager," clicking the + symbol next to Ports (Com & LPT), and you'll see one that says like "USB Serial Port (COM3)" or "Virtual COM Port (COM2)" or something. The number in the parantheses is the COM Port number that you need to set in TunerPro RT.